Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett has asked the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin to be a member of the city’s “Let’s Move” Task Force. This Task Force, which included, among others, leaders from the YMCA, Milwaukee Public Schools, and Growing Power, will guide Milwaukee’s efforts to become certified as a “Let’s Move City.”

Let’s Move is a nationwide initiative, spearheaded by First Lady Michele Obama, to raise of generation of more healthy and active kids. Thirty years ago, most kids walked or biked to school, had regular physical education classes and rarely ate fast food. Today most kids get to school in a bus or car, physical education has been cut and busy parents cook fewer meals at home. Let’s Move is a collaborative effort to get children eating better and off the couch.

Of course bicycling is an ideal way for Wisconsin’s children to become more active, more mobile and more independent. It’s an honor that the Mayor Barrett has invited the Bike Fed to participate.

The following Wisconsin cities are also working to become “Let’s Move” certified:

De Pere

Green Bay

Greenfield

La Crosse

Marshfield

Onalaska

Racine

Ripon

Wisconsin Rapids

Several Bike Fed programs (from bike camps to road education) can help your community’s children get moving. If your community would like the Bike Fed’s help in becoming “Let’s Move” certified, please contact me at kevin.hardman at bfw.org. Together we can create a generation of more healthy and active kids.